Mojaveflyer Loc: Denver, CO

The original image was RAW but when I use Denoise on the edited image it's a JPEG. That's usually the last step for the image unless I'm adding another layer with words or labels.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

I understand now, your times quoted are not applicable to the Adobe 'Denoise AI' function for raw files.

FrankN Loc: Maryland, USA

Huh? All processing in Lr is done against the raw file unless you have exported it as a jpeg (or other format).

howardberliner

Actually, it's the number of photos in the group. Less photos faster, more would be slower. I've had up to 26 minutes for a large group of photos.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Even with extreme pixel peeping, I really don’t see much difference in the two images - maybe just my old eyes

delder Loc: Maryland

Other discussions here on UHH about this topic.
The GPU [Graphics Card] seems to handle most of the processing for this type of program. Upgrading the GPU MAY require Upgrading the Computer Power Supply as well. Size of the GPU is also a concern in smaller cases.

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

LR Denoise is very slow. I use Topaz. However, to speed up processing time; I crop the image to what I want, before I denoise. Takes less time than doing the entire photo.

williejoha

My new Dell XPS 17 with the top graphics card for that computer takes about 20 seconds to denoise.
WJH

Grahame Loc: Fiji

My observation is based upon the artifacts left/added to the orange T-shirt.

ThreeCee Loc: Washington, DC

I’m with you. Topaz has very good plug ins and the results look very natural.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I see that on the right side of the shirt now that I look for it. On the other hand, there are other areas, such as the hand, where the noise suppression of Topaz appears better to me. I’m not sure I think PS Denoise is better, just different. Plus if one takes minutes or tens of minutes and the other takes seconds or tens of seconds, there’s that.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Noise is, by definition, random. That means that it can look quite different in different situations. It would imply that it will be sensed and removed differently by different software, or perhaps even by the same software if run different times.

I think the most important question is whether the software a person is using is doing an acceptable job, not whether it might be slightly better or worse than another choice in a specific example. A trend of "worseness" might prompt a different response, of course.

Robertl594 Loc: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and Nantucket

I have a fast custom built computer for photo work. I tried LR denoise today. Told it would take 28 minutes to process. I cancelled, used Topaz LR plug-in and was done in less than 1 minute.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

Yes, it is the artifacts left on the orange shirt that to me are most distracting and I was unable to find any means/setting in Topaz to alleviate them. As for the hand where it is most noticeable and also on the rest of the image the 'noise' is more significant than the Topaz result. Note, the LR/ACR example only used 50% of available noise suppression, meaning it can be reduced further if required.

But, to the point of my posted example which was in response to a specific statement in the post by 'worldcycle' that stated - "I bought Topaz. Much faster, more options and a higher quality output", my point is that this is not necessarily correct in all situations.

As for Topaz I love it, it has its uses and LR/ACR Denoise AI will not replace it at present for much of what I do in my workflow. For info, my recent delving into high ISO noise removal performance is due to my event photography which often entails shooting action commencing from very early morning no light conditions and investigating how far I can push my new Z8 ISO and accomplish a reasonably timed workflow.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Understood. I shoot a fair amount of indoor sports where no flash is allowed and a reasonably shutter speed is required. So fast lenses wide open or nearly so, very high ISOs, full frame and raw (of course) with Denoise processing are the order of the day (or night 😎).